Characteristics of Growth Mindset
- Being comfortable with change
- Feeling ready for an opportunity as opposed to fear of failure
- Openness to life long learning
- Trust in one’s own ability
- Self belief
- Trust in the learning process
- Finding meaning in the journey
- See value in the process as opposed to end results
- Being open to learning and discovery
- Remembering patience
What You Can Learn To Do
Embrace Uncertainty
- Tolerate, accept & utilize uncertainty
Embrace Failure
- Reconcile fear of failure
- Embrace the journey as opposed to results
- Become open to the benefits of failure
- Conquer the perils of perfectionism
Embrace The Learning Process & Enjoy The Journey
- Understand the idea of being a lifelong learner
- Learn to see struggles as a chance to learn
- Develop flexible thinking
- Open up space for creative thinking
- Learn to see struggles as opportunities, (as opposed to threats)
- Find ways to approach growth from the perspective of play
About The Growth Mindset
The concept of a growth mindset was developed by the psychologist Carol S. Dweck. Dweck is known for her research in positive psychology, motivation, and learning. The “growth mindset” is an individual’s belief that they have the potential to develop skills and abilities to succeed through effort as opposed to a “fixed mindset” where an individual believes they are incapable of improvements in certain areas. While everyone is born into a certain mind, environments, or circumstance, the growth mindset encourages us to focus beyond our current state of limits and develop a belief in the possible.
In Carol’s words,
“In a fixed mindset students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. In a growth mindset students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.”
How To Build A Growth Mindset of Your Own
Seeing the world in a new way is a process. A new mindset is not a switch that can be turned on or off. To have a growth mindset, you have to build it and sometimes that means starting from scratch.
1) Narrow Your Focus
What kind of growth mindset do you want to grow?
Spiritual Growth, Emotional Growth, Cognitive Growth or Physical Growth
2) Set Your Intentions
What do you wish to gain from the development of this mindset ?
3) Think, Question, Explore
- What gives you the strength to grow ?
- What words come to mind when you think of growth?
- What does growth represent to you ?
- What do you need to remember about yourself to find the space to grow?
- What’s exciting about growth ?
- What motivates you to grow ?
- How can you see more opportunities for growth ?
- How do you want to grow this year?
- How do you act differently in the world when you believe in yourself and your ability to learn and change ?
Thinking Tools
The Garden of Growth ( worksheets and thought exercise )
Change Your Glasses, Change Your Life ( workshop)
Life Coaching for Creativity & Personal Transformation in St. Louis, Missouri
Chaos2order Coaching, Holistic Wellness for the Modern Dreamer
Intentional Living with Jasmine Raskas, ICF Certified Creativity & Wellness Coach